NFL Week 13 Picks: SUPER EXPRESS EDITION

NFL Week 13 Picks: SUPER EXPRESS EDITION
M.D. Wright
11.26.08

I've got to get these out in a hurry. Last week was a normal 10-6 week for me. Should have been 14-2, if I hadn't let my hatred of certain teams get in the way. Oh.

I've gotten slack with the explanation for my picks, in case you were hoping that would change this week? Don't bet on it. I've got too much work to do. LOL

Tennessee Titans vs. Detroit Lions
Ford Field
Detroit, Michigan
*Thanksgiving Day*

Please take the Lions off the Thanksgiving sked and replace them with the Giants, good lord. This is going to be ugly. The Titans might not pass the ball 15 times all day -- and why would they when rushing against a team with a defense like a sieve?

Call:
Tennessee 24
Detroit 9
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Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys
Texas Stadium
Irving, Texas

Another embarrassment to the NFL. Dallas is more viable than Detroit, and many people thought Seattle would be good this year. However, this game won't be a blowout. Just a snoozefest.

Call:
Seattle 17
Dallas 23
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Arizona Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Lincoln Financial Field
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

THIS IS THE GAME THAT SHOULD BE ON TV!!! The friggin' NFL Network is like the KGB. I refuse to comment on it in protest.

Call:
Arizona 34
Philadelphia 23
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San Francisco 49ers vs. Buffalo Bills
Ralph Wilson Stadium
Orchard Park, New York

The Bills are in dire straits in regards to their playoff chances. The 49ers have settled into their post-honeymoon Mike Singletary slump. Bills win a much needed game.

Call:
San Francisco 13
Buffalo 21
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Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Paul Brown Stadium
Cincinnati, Ohio

Watching the Bengals play the swarming Ravens is like watching people get tossed to the hungry lions. No, not the DETROIT TOOTHLESS LIONS, either.

Call:
Baltimore 30
Cincinnati 10
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Indianapolis Colts vs. Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns Stadium
Cleveland, Ohio

The Browns' owner has put the Browns on notice. Not that it matters. The Colts are back and they are going to bludgeon the Browns out of their own stadium. Crennel and Savage and their clown act will end in December.

Call:
Indianapolis 31
Cleveland 14
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Carolina Panthers vs. Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field
Green Bay, Wisconsin

OK, a repeat of the 1996 NFC Champeenship game. The Panthers are "better" than the Packers, but neither team looks like more than a one and done in the playoffs. It's a wonder (with Jake Delhomme's play, DESPITE the running game) how they're 8-3. The Packers proved that if they can't get INTs with their secondary, they can't keep up with decent scoring teams. The Panthers DO score very well, ya know...

Call:
Carolina 27
Green Bay 20
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Miami Dolphins vs. St. Louis Rams
Edward Jones Dome
St. Louis, Missouri

The Rams have mailed in the season and are vying for the #2 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. The end.

Call:
Miami 28
St. Louis 6
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New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida

The Saints scored a HUGE win Monday night. Will it carry over to this game? It is tough to do much against the Bucs, because they don't give up big plays nor make mistakes. I just find it hard to believe that the Bucs can cover all the guys that Brees passes the ball to. Maybe Bush comes back for this one? Who knows? He won't matter.

Call:
New Orleans 27
Tampa Bay 17
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New York Football Giants vs. Washington Redskins
FedEx Field
Landover, Maryland

The Giants defeated the 'skins in Week 1 at home, but this is going to be a tougher game. The Redskins are reeling, though. Their defense is playing well, but the offense is falling off badly. If Jason Campbell does not right the ship in this game, they are going to be in trouble. The Giants' pass rush and exceptional back-seven coverage (still not sure where all the nonsense about the Giants' secondary being supposedly "weak" is coming from) is going to get at him and he's going to make mistakes. Clinton Portis MUST have a 100 yard game to give them a chance.

Call:
NY Giants 31
Washington 24
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Atlanta Falcons vs. San Diego Chargers
Qualcomm Stadium
San Diego, California

Panic time for the Chargers. They usually go on a winning streak during this time of the year. They need it. But Matty Ice will rebound from a couple of mediocre performances to carry the Falcons to a win over the spotty Chargers' defense. Michael Turner and Roddy White continue to wow the casual fan (and help me win fantasy football games). The Chargers can (and will) lose this game and STILL potentially win the AFC West in Week 17.

Call:
Atlanta 28
San Diego 27
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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots
Gillette Stadium
Foxborough, Massachusetts

The Patriots are going to get exposed Sunday. That is all I am going to say. Playing the Steelers are an accurate barometer of who's great and who's just pretending to be contenders this year in the NFL. You will know what the Patriots are made out of after this one.

Call:
Pittsburgh 24
New England 20
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Denver Broncos vs. New York Football Jets
Giants Stadium
East Rutherford, New Jersey

Goodness sakes the Broncos defense... (pause as I well up with tears). This could be a bloodbath if the Jets remain true to form. No, it WILL BE. The Broncos just got BLOWN OUT BY THE OAKLAND RAIDERS!!!

Call:
Denver 14
NY Jets 27
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Kansas City Chiefs vs. Oakland Raiders
McAfee Coliseum
Oakland, California

Both teams suck. Both teams suck. Both teams suck. Both teams suck. God bless and good night.

Call:
Kansas City 6
Oakland 3
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Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Minneapolis, Minnesota
*SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*

The Bears really need to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the division. Winning this game will give them tiebreakers and more confidence down the stretch in the last quarter of the season. I think they will pull it off.

Call:
Chicago 23
Minnesota 17
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Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
Reliant Stadium
Houston, Texas

Why is this game coming on Monday Night...?
I'm only watching for three insignificant (in the context of the game itself) reasons: 1) The prospect of seeing Sagecopter II 2) Steve Slaton rack up points for me in Fantasy, but at the same time 3) The Jaguars are being benched as my fantasy defense this week in favor of the Browns; who will do no better against Indy. Man fantasy sucks at times.

Call:
Jacksonville 13
Houston 27
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More later...